Our Thoughts:
We picked up the UST 30 Day Lantern up from our local sporting goods store a back in 2013, more or less on a whim. We had grown tired of our old/heavy/big led lanter and were looking for something that had enough output to illuminate camp but could be dimmed so as not to blind oneself when using it in a tent. The 30 Day Lantern seemed to fit our needs and has since lived in the back of our 4Runner, traveling with us on every adventure since then. The old adage, 'Big things come in small packages', rings true with this lantern. The whopping 300 lumens produced is staggering and we have used the 30 Day Lantern as the sole source of camp light on all of our camping trips since purchase.

Mar 19, 2015

A while back I had the opportunity to meet with the lead designer of a major outdoor gear manufacturer. Of the topics we discussed, backpack loading was one that stuck in my mind. A question was posed, 'How does the placement of a heavy object, within a backpack, affect the resultant forces applied to a hiker?'

What I found interesting about our pack loading conversation was my ideas on how a pack should be loaded differed from that of the designer. I had grown up packing my backpacking pack with the heaviest items on the bottom and the lightest items on the top, while the designer had been packing his the opposite way. This difference in opinion on how a backpack should be packed intrigued me and that is when the engineer in me kicked in and I had to "run the numbers". The product designer said the reason for placing the heavy items high was to improve mobility; while I said placing the heavy items low prevented fatigue.

Mar 17, 2015

This week in Overland Industry News, we take a look at one of my personal favorite industry companies, Big Agnes. We talk trails, Photography, and National Parks, and even the Easter Jeep Safari. As many of us are starting to get anxious about the upcoming spring and our favorite activities, now is the time to start thinking about checking our gear and getting prepped for our next big adventure.

National Trails Day

Though it may seem a ways out still, the American Hiking Society and many clubs and outdoor enthusiasts across the country are gearing up for National Trails Day on June 6th 2015. Every state is said to be having at least one event for the day. Activities such as hiking, climbing, horseback riding, and paddling are just a few options taking place near you. Read all about it right here: National Trails Day